Driving, steering and braking system for boats

ABSTRACT

System for boats having compressed-air means for providing propulsive power by way of nozzles, of which swingable ones are provided in the stern and optional, stationary ones in the bow. Articulated conduit sections allow the stern nozzles to be swung about considerable angles, thereby controlling the direction of movement of the boat, while speed control may be provided through conventional throttle means which are operable independently from steering means which act upon the swinging movement of the nozzles. The nozzles in the bow can be used for braking forward movement and to provide rearward movement of the boat; they may be closed by flaps when not in use.

O UnIted States Patent [151 3,675,612 Pfeiffer July I 1, 1972 {s41DRIVING, STEERING AND BRAKING FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS SYSTEM FORBOATS 59!,089 8/l947 Great Britain.........................1 l5/ll [72]Inventor: Mr "em", Am braunen Berg l0 Him 6i8,269 2/I96l [5/12 bach'Gummy Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix [22] Filed: March 12, 1970Attorney-Tab T. Thein System for boats having compressed-air means forproviding [30] Forelgn Appll fl ori y Di propulsive power by way ofnozzles, of which swingable ones are provided in the stern and optional.stationary ones in the March 1969 Germany l9 l2 bow. Articulated conduitsections allow the stern nozzles to be swung about considerable anglesthereby controlling the [52] US. Cl. R direction f movement f the boatwhfle Speed coma may [51] Int. Cl ..B63l| "/00 be provided throughconventional throttle means which are [58] Fieldol Search ..I IS/ I I,l2, l5, l6 operable independenfly from steering means which act upon theswinging movement of the nozzles. The nozzles in the bow 56] R fm cu canbe used for braking forward movement and to provide rearward movement ofthe boat; they may be closed by flaps UNITED STATES PATENTS when not inuse.

3,253,568 5/1966 Cannizaro I 15/1! 5 China, 3 Drawing FiguresPHTENTEDJUL 1 1 1912 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR. DIETER PFElFFER AGENTPATENTEnJuL 11 m2 3.675.612

sum 2 or 2 FIG. 2

INVENTO DIETER PFEIF R AGENT DRIVING, STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEM FORBOATS The invention relates to a driving system for boats, which alsoserves as a steering and braking device. Instead of the customarycombustion engine and drive propeller a compressed-air aggregate isused, conventionally including a diesel motor, compressor andcompressed-air tank or tanks. At the stern of the boat, but possiblyalso at the bow, compressed-air nozzles are provided, preferably belowthe floating line, so that the boat is propelled by the pressure of thecompressed air emerging from the nozzles. As will be explained hereunderin more detail, the compressed air can also be used for braking theforward movement of the boat.

It has become known to provide a driving system for boats in which thepropelling power is obtained by compressed air emerging from appropriatenonles. The emerging amount of air, and thus the speed of the boat, isregulated by means of throttle valves and the like expedients, thelatter being disposed in the conduits or pipes leading to the compressedair nozzles. Conventional control members may be used on the dashboardof the boat for controlling the throttle valves. Additional valves andthe like are used for compressed-air nozzles installed on the left andthe right of the stern, which however are not simultaneously closed andopened but alternately or selectively, a steering mechanism beingprovided on the dashboard for steering the boat and changing itsdirection of movement.

It has been found that the closing or opening of one or the othernozzle, for purposes of steering the boat, does not readily result in achange of direction so that the boat cannot be maneuvered at will; theknown arrangement does not allow to brake the movement of the boat.

This is where the invention sets in and has as its object a system ofnozzles swingable about a substantially vertical axis to the left and/orthe right, thereby changing the direction in which the compressed air isexpelled, and thus providing a change in direction of the boat. It hasbeen found that the boat promptly reacts to the change in the angulardirection of the nozzles so that the most difficult maneuvers andmovements can be carried out with relatively small turning circles.Steering throttle valves are dispensed with, and the compressed-airconduits need only be provided with simultaneously operable throttlevalves for controlling the speed of the boat.

The swingable nozzles are formed by air-tight articulations havingpulleys or sprocket wheels about which a control cable or chain isguided, preferably about both articulations, and which cable or the likeis eventually connected to a conventional steering wheel or the like atthe control position (e.g., dashboard) of the boat.

As the wheel is turned in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, thatis, to the right or the left, respectively, the two nozzles aresimultaneously swung to the same direction. The stern of the boat hassubstantially horizontally arranged, watertight recesses in which thenozzles can freely move in their horizontal plane of swinging action.

As a further feature of the inventive combined driving, steering andbraking system, optionally two further, stationary nozzles can beprovided in the bow of the boat, similarly below the water or floatingline thereof, and at a level corresponding to that of the swingablenozzles in the stern. These stationary nozzles are adapted to brake theforward movement of the boat, if necessary, and they will of course alsoallow rearward movement when the other nozzles are fully throttled.

When the stationary nozzles are activated, the boat is suddenly andeffectively braked so that this optional arrangement allows the boat tobe momentarily stopped.

The stationary noules are preferably lodged in suitable recesses of thebow so that they do not protrude beyond the contour of the boat. Theserecesses can be closed by the aid of movable flaps so as to reduceresistance to the water during the forward movement of the boat, by theaid of conventional control means which allow selective opening andclosing of said flaps, such as from the dashboard.

With a view to relieving the weight of the boat from its middle sectionwhich has the relatively heavy driving aggregate therein, the inventionalso contemplates a double bottom for the boat which can be filled witha floatable material such as cork, or which can be lined with cork matsand the like.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomebetter understood from the following description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 constitutes a somewhat schematic plan view of a boat equippedwith a compressed-air drive system as well as the steering and brakingsystem combination according to the invention, the middle portion of theboat having been omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the stern, showing the inventive swingablenozzles; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bow, showing the optional stationarynozzles behind closable flaps.

In the drawings, the bow and the stern of the boat are generallydesignated by respective numerals l and 2; in P10. 1, the latter is onlyshown in dot-dash lines since the actual configuration thereof is notcritical as far as the inventive concept is concerned. In FIGS. 2 and 3,the water or floating level is arbitrarily indicated at WI. but could behigher, or somewhat lower, than shown, as long as the compressed-airnozzles are therebelow.

The omitted middle portion of the boat lodges conventional equipment forproducing, storing and dispensing compressed air, such as, for example,a diesel aggregate; air tanks are shown at 30 and 3b (for the bow andthe stern, respectively). Numerals 4a, 4b denote conduits leading fromthe tanks to the nozzles to be described hereinafter in full detail.

Let us discuss first the stern, having therein nozzles 5b which havearticulated conduit sections 6, allowing angular movement of theterminal nozzle section, about an angle identified by a and which, forpractical purposes, is 45 or more (in the illustrated embodiment, Thearticulation has rigid therewith a pulley or sprocket wheel 7 forguiding therearound an endless force transmitting means in the form of acable or chain (as shown), numbered 8, the latter being guided aboutrollers or pulleys 9.

The dashboard 11 is shown to include a steering wheel 10 about which thechain 8 is guided so that movement of the wheel in either direction willentrain the chain as well as the articulated conduit sections 6 withtheir pulleys or wheels 7. Thus a simultaneous swinging movement of thenozzles 5b results from the actuation of steering wheel 10, therebydirecting the stream of compressed air in the proper way for the desiredmaneuvering of the boat. It will be understood by those skilled in theart that the transmission between the swingable nozzles or theirswingable portions can be of any desired and known kind although onlyone preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated herein. Thus, forexample, a rigid linkage or other connection can be provided between theswingable nozzles and the steering means (not necessarily a wheel).

FIG. 2 shows that the stern has therein substantially horizontalcut-outs or recesses 12b wherein the nozzles 5b can be swung in ahorizontal plane. Proper airand water-tight members are used to insulatethe system against unwanted water from entering and compressed air fromescaping.

For speed control, a manual control member 13 is schematically shown,acting upon Bowden-type or other cables 14 which in turn controlrespective throttle valves 15 in the conduits 4b. According to one ofthe important features of the invention, the throttle arrangement isindependent from the speed control so that speed can be regulatedregardless of the direction in which the boat moves.

Turning now to the arrangement of the bow, it may contain additional,but this time stationary nozzles 50 which are directly attached to theirconduits 4a. Throttle means have not been shown for these nozzles but itshould be understood that they can be activated independently from theswingable nozzles 51:; if necessary, individual throttles for theleftand the the maneuverability backward travel.

FIG. 3 shows how the bow is provided with cut-outs or recesses 11a whichlodge die nozzles a. These recesses have movable flaps or covers 224,shown withdrawn or open on the left-hand side of this figure, and closedon the right-hand side (and similarly in the plan view of FIG. I). Theseflaps may be guided along rails, may be pivoted or otherwise movable,and constructed in any other manner known for structures of this kind.In their closed condition they reduce resistance of the boat to waterwhen moving in forward direction. Conventional control or actuatingmeans for the flaps have been omitted for the sake of clarity; a cableor a linkage may lead to the control position at the dashboard of theboat.

The nozzles 50, 5b have been shown in a recessed arrangement, notprotruding beyond the contour of the boat. It is however possible tohave the rear or the front noules, or all, protrude beyond the boatwalls in which case the recesses would not be necessary (or only in thebow to allow the nozzles to be covered up).

The combined driving, steering and braking system according to theinvention becomes more effective if the relatively high weight of thecompressed-air aggregate (including, as usual, a diesel engine and acompressor, as well as the compressed-air tanks) is at least partlyrelieved from the middle portion of the boat. FIG. 2 shows the expedientprovided for this urpose, namely a double bottom 16 which canaccommodate float/able materials, such as cork and the like, shown at17. The boat bottom may also be lined with cork mats and the like. Thedouble bottom may extend partly or completely along the boat.

The inventive combined driving, steering and braking system has theadvantage that the boat reacts promptly to even the slightest movementsof the steering wheel '(that is, the angular movements of the sternnozzles) without individually throttling them. The boat can turn toeither side, regardless of the required turning angle, almost on thespot, and without substantial loss of speed. Both braking and backwardtravel are possible in an expedient manner since the speed control isindependent from the directional control. Boats equipped with theinventive system are most suitable for sporting purmsy also be providedright-hand nozzles 5a, thereby increasing of the boat in dockingoperations or for poses, for life-saving and patrol work, and otherpurposes where speed and efiiciency are required.

What I claim is:

1. A combined driving, steering and braking system for boats, comprisingin combination means for producing, storing and dispensing compressedair, and rearwardly directed compressed-air nozzles in the stern of theboat, operativeiy connectable with said compressed-air means, and havingterminal portions swingable in a substantially horizontal plane, by theintermediary of respective articulated conduit sections, the latterbeing connected by the aid of transmission means to manual steeringmeans at a control position of the boat, for controlling the swingingmovement of said nozzles and thereby the direction of movement of theboat, as well as forwardly directed stationary compressed-air nozzles inthe bow of the boat, operatively connectable with said compressed-airmeans, and adapted to brake the forward movement of the boat and toprovide rearward movement if necessary, said stationary nozzles beinglodged in recesses provided in the bow of the boat, and furthercomprising movable flaps for said recesses, and control means forselectively opening and closing said flaps from the control position ofthe boat, thereby reducing resistance to the water during the forwardmovement of the boat when said stationary nozzles are not activated andsaid flaps are closed.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said swingableportions of the nozzles are lodged in substantially horizontal recessesprovided in the stern of the boat.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein both said rearwardly andsaid forwardly directed nozzles are disposed substantially at the samelevel, and wherein at least said rearwardly directed nozzles arepositioned, with their swingable portions, so as to be within thecontour of the boat.

4. A The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission meansincludes force transmitting means operatively interconnecting saidsteering means with portions of said articulated conduit sections forsimultaneous swinging movement thereof about an angle of at least 45.

5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein said compressed-air meansincludes throttle means providing speed control for the boat, operableindependently from said steering means and the prevailing direction ofmovement of the boat.

1. A combined driving, steering and braking system for boats, comprisingin combination means for producing, storing and dispensing compressedair, and rearwardly directed compressed-air nozzles in the stern of theboat, operatively connectable with said compressed-air means, and havingterminal portions swingable in a substantially horizontal plane, by theintermediary of respective articulated conduit sections, the latterbeing connected by the aid of transmission means to manual steeringmeans at a control position of the boat, for controlling the swingingmovement of said nozzles and thereby the direction of movement of theboat, as well as forwardly directed stationary compressed-air nozzles inthe bow of the boat, operatively connectable with said compressed-airmeans, and adapted to brake the forward movement of the boat and toprovide rearward movement if necessary, said stationary nozzles beinglodged in recesses provided in the bow of the boat, and furthercomprising movable flaps for said recesses, and control means forselectively opening and closing said flaps from the control position ofthe boat, thereby reducing resistance to the water during the forwardmovement of the boat when said stationary nozzles are not activated andsaid flaps are closed.
 2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein atleast said swingable portions of the nozzles are lodged in substantiallyhorizontal recesses provided in the stern of the boat.
 3. The system asdefined in claim 1, wherein both said rearwardly and said forwardlydirected nozzles are disposed substantially at the same level, andwherein at least said rearwardly directed nozzles are positioned, withtheir swingable portions, so as to be within the contour of the boat. 4.A The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission meansincludes force transmitting means operatively interconnecting saidsteering means with portions of said articulated conduit sections forsimultaneous swinging movement thereof about an angle of at least 45*.5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein said compressed-air meansincludes throttle means providing speed control for the boat, operableindependently from said steering means and the prevailing direction ofmovement of the boat.